Randy Orton, a stalwart in the WWE, is on the verge of a sensational comeback, poised to take center stage at the upcoming WWE Survivor Series premium live event this Saturday.
Randy Orton’s Hiatus
After months of being on the sidelines, Orton is set to join forces with Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Cody Rhodes in what is anticipated to be the main event of the evening—the Men’s WarGames Match. Their opponents, collectively known as The Judgment Day, include Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio, along with Drew McIntyre and JD McDonagh.
The former WWE Champion’s absence dates back to May when a back injury compelled him and Matt Riddle to relinquish the Raw Tag Team Titles to The Usos before taking a leave of absence. Unfortunately, this hiatus disrupted WWE’s plans for an Orton vs. Riddle feud, with Orton eventually requiring back fusion surgery. It’s worth noting that Riddle was released from the company a few months ago.
The much-anticipated return of Orton was strategically unveiled ahead of Survivor Series to quash speculations about CM Punk’s potential comeback at the Chicago-held event. Cody Rhodes, in a gripping announcement, revealed the comeback during the closing moments of Monday’s Raw.
Brandon Thurston of WrestleNomics highlighted the significant fan response to the revelation. The YouTube video of the announcement has surpassed a million views in just over 24 hours, underscoring the palpable excitement among the WWE fanbase.
Raw’s viewership for the week stood at 1.459 million, with a notable 0.49 key demo rating. Despite facing stiff competition from a historic NFL game, Raw achieved its highest P18-49 viewership since September 4.
The final segment, featuring Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso and the much-anticipated Orton announcement, saw a remarkable uptick of +7 in total viewership and a 5% increase in the key demo rating. Notably, Raw’s third hour, known for rating drops, defied the trend this week, capturing audience interest throughout, culminating in the riveting final segment.
NXT Tag Team Championship and Fatal Four-Way Match Headline 11/28 WWE NXT Event
